Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Taqueria del Barrio opens Thursday on Upshur Street

Mexican time! Just got a press release that Taqueria del Barrio at 821 Upshur Street NW is opening this Thursday, March 30th.

They have "house-made regional Mexican dishes and drinks in the Petworth neighborhood of Northwest DC. Diners can choose from 14 types of tacos served on tortillas made in-house, three specialty ‘torta’ sandwiches, and additional traditional Mexican foods, served in a modern, casual dining room and bar." They'll also have a kids menu.

The location was formerly Domku, and the spot will have entrees from $11-$15 and drinks from $6-$14, and will seat 92 people, or 140 for a standing reception. The owners also run the DC Empanadas food truck and Union Market stand, and food will include lots of tacos, elote (street corn), chiles rellenos, mole and more, plus lots of cocktails and margaritas.

Here's more from the press release:

Taqueria del Barrio’s menu
was developed by Chef and Owner Anna Bran-Leis and General
Manager Mikey Torres, and is centered around $3 tacos in classic styles
like carne asada,pescado, and al pastor varieties served
alongside less-familiar options like nopales – grilled cactus paddle
served with melted Oaxacan cheese. Appetizers include elote with a
chili-lime aioli and cotija cheese, and beef albondigas cooked in a
smoky chipotle salsa. Entrées range from $12 to $15 and include traditional
Mexican dishes like chile relleno –poblano peppers stuffed with
barbacoa, tomatoes, onions, and queso freso; and mole con pollo with
made-from-scratch mole, blended with nuts, chiles, and a subtle hint of
chocolate. While Taqueria del Barrio is opening with a lunch and dinner menu, a
unique brunch menu is expected to roll out in the coming months.

Taqueria del Barrio occupies a 2,200-square foot space designed to evoke the taquerias of Mexico City. Mixed textiles like reclaimed wood, rope, and materials like weathered steel reinforce the restaurant’s no-nonsense focus on quality ingredients and authentic flavors. Subtle touches evocative of Mexico City, including a full-wall mural of Our Lady of Guadalupe by local artist Matthew McMillan, are brightened with turquoise and bright yellow, warming the space to convey a sense of welcome. A central three-sided bar acts as the hub of the restaurant.